M1 Ultra + Mac Studio
The Apple event today did not disappoint. Aside from updating the iPhone SE and the iPad Air (both relatively boring updates), the M1 Ultra took the cake. Building on the momentum of the M1 series that Apple has pioneered, the M1 Ultra combines 2 M1 Max chips to create a powerhouse for creatives.
The M1 Ultra is not intended for the typical user. I can say from experience that the M1 Max is incredibly powerful for handling 12K video workflows, running 20 applications simultaneously, and processing images. All as if it isn't working at all.
With the breakthrough of the Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra, it is clear that Apple isn't playing games. It does raise some interesting questions:
- What is life like at intel today? (Especially after claiming they would catch up and surpass Apple)
- What workflows will this computer make possible?
- What are they planning to do with the Mac Pro?
It was mentioned today during the event that they do plan to announce updates to the Mac Pro on "another day." However, the Mac Studio is already far more powerful than the current Mac Pro in a desktop package that is a fraction of the size. Sure, you can't open the Mac Studio up and upgrade the parts, but if you buy the correct configuration, would you really need to?
It would appear that Apple isn't planning on leaving anything on the table. Focused on keeping ahead of the curve, Apple seems to be doubling down to produce the highest caliber machines on the planet. These updates are excellent news for the consumer. All of that tech trickles down to make computers like the Macbook Air a powerhouse. A good example is the announcement today that the new iPad Air would now use the M1 chip – further diminishing the gap between consumer power and pro power.
This has two potential effects:
- Apple says everyone deserves pro power and eventually simplifies its lineup to only pro products.
- Propower becomes so inexpensive and ubiquitous that all the consumer products gain pro power, and Apple continues to produce extreme, over-powered devices for pros.
In other words, it appears that Apple's ability to bring pro power will warp our perception of what a normal computer is. Apple may pull so far ahead of the competition that even a basic Mac can handle professional tasks.
Either way, I am excited to see how Apple continues the momentum later this year with the Mac Pro as well as anything else they have up their sleeve.
On a similar note, I was probably most excited to see Apple get back into the display game with a 27" display that doesn't cost $6K (before stand). The included A13 chip adds an intriguing offering to the display. Presumably, there will be less load on the Mac that is plugged in, meaning performance probably won't be diminished just because you are driving a high-res screen.
I am most interested in seeing what the Apple Display lineup looks like in 2 years as they further develop a display that relies on its own chip. Perhaps we will see even more interconnectivity and power from the combination.
The price, $1,600, can be somewhat hard to swallow. For instance, I could purchase an iMac and use universal control for a similar price – plus I would have an extra computer on hand. Sure, it would be 24" instead of 27" and potentially have slightly worse speakers. But, ultimately, I was hoping for something closer to a $1K price point. That said, there is no match for an external display, and I would certainly consider it for professional usage.
The whole event was a great start to 2022 as we still look to WWDC and potentially 2 events in the fall. But, for now, Apple has continued to bring unprecedented power to users through their professional computers and displays.
